Combined switch and fuse.



PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

G. E. CLARK. OOMBINED'SWITCH AND FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..11, 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

.No. 745,155. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903.

G. E. CLARK.

COMBINED SWITCH AND FUSE.

- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1903.

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

UNITED STATES Patented November 24-, 1908.

GEORGE E. CLARK, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

COMBINED SVVITCi-l ANLD FUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,155, dated November 24-, 1903.

Application filed March 11,1903. Serial No. 147.288. (No model.)

To aZZ w/"wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Switch and Fuse; and 1 do declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a combined switch and fuse; and it consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out particularly in the claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch cut-out or similar device with an inclosed ventilated fuse wherein provision is made for ventilating the fuse to prevent it from becoming unduly heated by the passage of the ordinary current, at the same time providing against the escape of flame or molten metal upon the blowing of the fuse, the arrangement being such as to afford ready access to the interior of the case or shell for the purpose of replacing a fuse after it has blown.

The above object is attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure '1 is a perspective view of a switch of the knife-blade pattern, showing my improved concealed fuse interposed in the side arms of the switch between the contact-terminals. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the inclosing case in which the fuse is concealed, showing thecontact'terminals projecting from the ends thereofwhich are electrically connected through the interior fuse. 3 is a transverse section as on line 3 3 of Fig. 5. Fig. at is an elevation of the case or shell, the hinged lid thereof being open, showing the fuse in position therein. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section as on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section as on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an elevation of the case with the plugs removed from the ends thereof. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of said plugs.

9 is a perspective view of one of the partitions formed of non-combustible material and mounted in the opposite ends of the case or shell to obviate the forming of a continuous are between the plugs within the case.

Referring to the characters of reference, 1 designates a suitable base of insulating material upon which the switch is mounted. At one end of said base are secured the plates 2, having the contactjaws 3, and having a screw 4, which secures the socket-lug 5 thereto, in which the conductor-wire is soldered or otherwise secured. At the opposite end of the base are the plates 6, having the bindingscrews 7, which secure the socket-lugs 8, that receive the opposite terminals of the circuitwires. Upon the plates 6 are formed the opposed brackets 7, between which are pivoted upon the bolts 10 the fiat lugs or ears 11, which project from the plugs in one end of the case or shell 12. Said case is preferably cylindrical in shape and is form ed ofsome suitable non-conductive material. The diameter of the case may be of such size as is necessary for the work required and is sufficiently rigid to form a strong and secure connection b tween the contact-plugs seated in the ends thereof and between which the fuse extends. These contact-plugs, which are placed in the opposite ends of the cylindrical shell, C0111- prise a circular disk 13, (see Fig. 8,) adapted to fill the inner diameter of the case and having a horizontally-projecting bracket 1%, at the inner end of which is formed a semicylindrical bearing 15. These plugs are made to tightly fit the interior of the case and are placed in the opposite ends, with the brackets 14 extending inwardly and the bearing-brackets 15 resting upon the inner wall of the shell. A screw 16 is passed through the case or shell into said bearing to assistin securing the plug firmly in place. To assist the screw 16 in retaining the plug in position in the shell, an exterior band 17 is placed around the shell at each end and secured by a pin 13, which passes through the band, the shell, and the plug 13, whereby the plugs are firmly retained in the ends of the shell, and a rigid connection is formed between said plugs calculated to carry any strain which may he placed thereon incident to the operation of the switch. The

contact-lug 11, projecting from one end of the fuse case or shell, is provided with an aperture 19, adapted to receive the pivot-bolt 10, while the lug 20, projecting from the opposite end of the shell, is provided with a slotted opening 21, adapted to receive a screw which passes therethrough and through the insulated cross-piece 23, carrying the handle 24, by means of which the switch is operated. The spring-jaws 8 of the plates 2 are adapted to snugly receive the thin contact-lugs 20, and thereby effect a continuity of the circuit when the switch is closed, as will be well understood.

For the purpose of affording free access to the interior of the fuse-shell a portion there- Of, as at 25, is formed into a lid or cover and is hinged at 26 to the body of the shell. This cover affords easy access to the interior of the shell and when closed may be secured by a hasp and pin, as shown at 27, or by other suitable means.

To effect a continuity of the conductor be tween the terminal plugs 13, a suitable fusewire 28 is employed, the ends of which extend onto the brackets 14 of the plugs and are bifurcated, as at 29, to receive the bindingscrews 30, that attach the ends thereof to said brackets. By means of this arrangement it will be understood that when a fuse blows it may be readily replaced by simply loosening the screws 30 and inserting another fuse within the shell.

To afford ample ventilation for the inclosed fuse and to prevent the presence of excessive heat, the shell is provided with a series of perforations 31, passing through the wall thereof, whereby the heat generated by the resistance of the fuse is allowed to escape and the temperature of the fuse and shell is maintained at a low degree.

To provide against igniting the shell by blowing the fuse, the interior thereof is covered with a lining 22, of mica or analogous material, so that flame and molten metal from the fuse when blown are held from contact with the wall of the shell and are prevented from escaping through the Ventilating-openings therein.

To prevent the formation of a continuous are between the lugs or contact-terminals in the ends of the fuse-shell, a circular partition .33, of mica or analogous material, is placed in the ends of the shell, so as to fill the inner diameter thereof and prevent the forming of an are between the contact-terminals at the time the fuse is blown.

By placing this concealed fuse between the contact-terminals of the switch, as shown, a combination of a switch and fuse is made which answers every purpose of protecting the circuit-wire from an excessive load without the employment of the ordinary fuse in addition to the switch and doing away with a number of parts and movable connections. If the fuse-shell be made of wood fiber, it may be rendered sufficiently rigid to easily carry the switch-handle and terminal contacts, and by means of the semicircular bearings 15, which extend into the shell or case and are secured thereto, the tube or shellis additionally stiffened.

It will be understood that this improved concealed fuse may be also employed in cutouts and for similar purposes aswell as for switches, as herein shown.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with the contact-terminals of a line, of an inclosed fuse adapted to connect said terminals comprising a shell, having contact-lugs in the ends thereof,adapted to be connected with said terminals, inwardly-projecting brackets leading from said lugs, a fuse-wire within the shell electrically connecting said brackets, means for removably fastening the terminals of said wires to said brackets and a door in the shell adapted to be opened to afford access to said fastening means.

2. The combination with the contact-terminals of a line, of an inclosed fuse comprising a case of insulating material, plugs in the ends of said case having outwardly-projecting lugs adapted to be connected to said contact-terminals, brackets projecting inwardly from said plugs and extending longitudinally within the case, a fuse-wire extending between said plugs and lying at its ends upon the face of said brackets and screws adapted to secure the ends of said fuse-wire to said brackets within the case to establish a contin uity of the circuit between the plugs.

The combination with the contact-terminals of a line, of an inclosing shell having contact-lugs extending from the ends thereof adapted to have electrical connection with said contact-terminals, a portion of the wall of said shell being movable to afford an opening therethrough and a fuse-wire adapted to connect the lugs within the shell removably seated therein and withdrawable through said opening.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE E. CLARK.

Witnesses:

E. S. WHEELER, P. A. HALL.

IIO 

